Seminole Community College is sponsoring free digital media software training for displaced media professionals. Media professionals who are out of work due to layoffs, shutdowns or other industry-related changes and who are actively seeking employment, or part-time workers who are not fully employed due to industry changes, are eligible for free classes in Apple Final Cut Pro 6 or Adobe Photoshop CS4.

The training is offered through Employ Florida Banner Center.

The training can lead to Adobe or Apple certifications. Seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, with only 21 seats available per class. Participants are limited to one course. These free classes will be held at Orlando Tech, 301 W. Amelia St., Orlando.

Here are the details: Final Cut Pro 6, June 12 and15-19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Adobe Photoshop CS4, June 22-26, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Employ Florida Banner Center for Digital Media is an industry-driven, statewide resource for digital media workforce education and training. Headquartered at SCC's Heathrow Center for Economic Development, the Digital Media Banner Center and its partners develop, coordinate and promote educational resources in response to the changing needs of this industry.

SCC has seen many students enrolling to change careers lately.

For example, Jill Feldman, 58, who has worked as a licensed practical nurse at Florida Hospital for more than 20 years, is going back to school. She began working on RN (registered nursing) prerequisites more than a decade ago, but did not complete them. She enrolled this summer in Anatomy and Physiology II, feeling pressure from the hospital to complete the RN program. More and more hospital techs are doing the work of LPNs, and for less. Phasing out LPN jobs is not out of the question for some healthcare facilities.

SCC offers the RN Career Transition track that allows for LPNs, paramedics and reparatory therapists to change careers and get into nursing. Applicants must have completed 2,000 hours of work experience in the past 3 years. These nursing courses are web-enhanced instruction, since the program’s students are already working in the health industry. Student such as Feldman are able to complete the transition in about one year, having completed all prerequisites.

• Two freshman athletes were recently honored for their accomplishments during the Raiders' 2008-09 fastpitch softball season.

Hope Bitzer was named a National Junior College Athletic Association third-team All-American and a National Fastpitch Coaches Association third-team All-American. She was also selected to the NFCA's All-South Region first team.

Ashley Frost was named an NFCA third-team All-American and selected to the NFCA's All-South Region first team.

Bitzer, a pitcher and first baseman, is only the fourth SCC softball player to be named an NJCAA All-American. During the season, she hit .341 with 14 doubles, six home runs and 44 RBIs. She was 20-9 on the mound, striking out 176 batters.

Frost, a designated hitter and first baseman, batted .368 with 36 RBIs and a team-leading seven home runs. In the field, she had 110 putouts, nine assists and committed no errors, finishing the season with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

During the 2008-09 season, the Raiders went 18-6 in conference play and 41-20 overall. The team finished 17th in the NJCAA National Poll, fourth in the Florida Community College Activities Association Coaches' Poll, and second in the Mid-Florida Conference.

Allison Feldman is an SCC student success specialist. She can be reached at 407-708-4404 or amf04d@scc-fl.edu.